Inhalant



Patented Oct. 25, 1938 PATENT OFFWE.

INHALANT Frank 0. Taylor and Harvey Merker, Detroit, Mich, assignor to Parke, Davis & Company, Detroit, Mich a'corporation otMichiga-n No Drawing. Application November 16, 19a,

Serial No. 111,174

6 Claims. This invention relates to therapeutic agents of that type which are useful for the treatment of and consequently more rapid in its therapeutic Another object is to provide an improved in-' halant which is relatively non-irritating when applied to the mucous membranes.

Another object is to produce a therapeutic agent effective as a vasoconstrictor, pleasant ineffect and ofsuch a character as to inhibit all bacterial and fungus growth.

In the broader aspects of our, invention the new therapeutic agent comprises an aqueous so- 3 lution of a glucose base, a vas'oconstrictive 'sub- 20 stance and sufiicie'nt preservative'to inhibit any bacterlahor fungus growth in the glucose base. The vasoconstrictive substance may be ephedrin, epinephrin or other'natural or synthetic sub- I stance having similar properties. Ghlorthymol is another substance which in some cases may be used in the invention. The vasoconstrictor may be. used in any form in which it is soluble in water, preferably in the form of salts such as the chloride, sulphate, lactate and other equivalents. It is preferably used in'amounts to give a solution of not over ofthe alkaloid, and in general a satisfactory amount is the equivalent to a 1% solution of the same.

The-glucose base is preferably dextrose since it-may be obtained .in avery pure form. The solution should preferablycontain at least 2 7},

dextrose,and 5% is a desirable quantity although more may be used in some cases. In general the solution contains dextrose in suflicient quantities to make it approximately isotonic or in some cases hypertohic. The preservative used must be one having antiseptic properties suflicient to inhibit all bacterial and fungus growth and at the same time not having irritating properties 45- when applied to the mucous membranes. A satisfactory chemical for, this purpose ischlorbutanol. I An example of a therapeutic agent of our invention isone. having the following composi- 50 tion z j J 'Ephedrin lactate equivalent to 1% of ephedrin.

-Dextrose Chlorbutanol .0.5 Menthol 0.1%. 55 Water.

The above .compound may' be rendered still more suitable for therapeuticuse by incorporating a small amount of perfume oils, such as oil of lavender, and an anilin dye. A small amount of alcohol is ,used to render the oils soluble. The 5 amount 'is restricted to .avoid irritation. 2% alcohol is sufficient to dissolve the oils and does not cause irritation.

. Instead of ephedrin lactate in the above formula, any other salt of ephedrin may be used such 10 as ephedrin chloride, sulphate, etc. The corresponding salts of epinephrin may also be substituted, and if desired the ephedrin and epinephrin may be used in combination.

Chlorbutanol may be used up to the limit of 15' its solubility, but preferably five-tenths of 1% is used since this is sufficient for the purpose. Instead of using chlorbutanol in the above formula, other germicidal and fungicidal agents may be used providing'they are non-irritating. I

Atherapeutic agent of the invention as above described may be used as a'spray or as drops and is of particular utility for the treatment of the nose and throat. It is less irritating than previously known aqueous or oil solutions of ephedrin, epinephrin agents. I What we claim as our invention is:

1. A therapeutic agent in the form of an inhalant for local application comprising an. aqueous solution'of a vasoconstrictive substance, dextrose in amount not substantially less than that sufficient to make an isotonic solution and a germicidal agent in amount sufiicient 'to inhibit bacterial andfungus growth in the solution.

2. A therapeutic agent in the form of an in- 40 halant for local application comprising an aqueous solution of a vasoconstrictive substance, dextrose not less than /2% and a e micidal agent in amount sufi'icient to inhibit bacterial and fungus growth in the solution.

3. A therapeutic agent in the'form of an inhalant for local application comprising an aqueous solution of a ephedrin compound, dextrose in amount not s bstantially less than that sufiicient to make a substantially isotonic solution and chlorbutanol in amount sufficient to inhibit bacterial and fungus'growth in the solution.

4. A therapeutic agent in the form of an inhalant for' local application: comprising water, 1

and other vasoconstrictive 6. A therapeutic agent in the form of an inhalant for local application comprising an aqueous solution of ephedrin lactate, and dextrose in amount not substantially less than that required to make an isotonic solution.

HARVEY M. MERKER. FRANK O. TAYLOR. 

